Following our wedding last September, I had to find a new outlet for all my creative energy. Plus, I had collected a lot of pieces that needed a permanent home - when they aren't being rented of course. The first place I looked was our main living area. We spend most of our time in this space and after our german shepherd puppy tore through, it was in desperate need of some love and attention.

Note: I wish I had some good before photos but picture a beige/yellow-ish paint colour (what was I thinking) paired with big wood furniture, big brown couches and a fake plant in the corner.

The updated paint colour made all the difference in the world. I highly recommend painting any space white. You may think it's boring but it changes everything: the amount of light that comes into the room, how beautiful the trim details look, and the amount of texture you can bring in through furniture and fabrics. Everything looks clean and modern against a crisp white background. You can hardly see all the cat and dog hair!

Once the walls were white and a new sofa was purchased to replace the ugly old ones, we were ready to purge - keeping only the coffee table, tv, and curtains in the kitchen. Everything else was found on Kijiji (like a beautiful industrial cabinet that, believe it or not, someone started to paint red. Thank god they stopped. See below), antique markets, or local thrift stores. Honestly, if you're willing to spend the time searching places like the Habitat Re-Store or the Reuse Centre here in Burlington, you can find some real gems. Just check often and go in knowing that some pieces might need some love but it will save you tons. Some highlight pieces: a hexagonal games table with extension leaf that we use as our kitchen table, a bohemian wicker chair and geometric side table for a total of $30, and a large glass door cabinet that the owner no longer had room for.

The final additions to bring the space to life (literally) were some plants... real ones this time. Mostly tropical plants like a few succulents, a snake plant, a palm, and some cascading leafy ones that I don't recall the names of. It's amazing how much better a space looks with some greens. For the most part, I like a no-colour space. Neutrals all the way. Because I find colour just wears on me after a while. I can't look at it all day, every day - it'll drive me crazy. So natural greens, textures, and patterns are really the only way I like to add some visual interest.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into our house. I plan on taking more shots of the spaces that have resolved in the past year when the lighting cooperates. I'm really loving the updates we've made so far and am excited to share more photos soon!

Thanks for stopping by! Here on the blog you can find my latest projects, how-to's, and behind the scenes of what's happening around the house. If you enjoy design, home decor, DIY, and weddings, you're in the right place.– Melissa Meyer